Madagascar Court Sentences Man to Castration for Child Rape

In a landmark case in Madagascar, a court sentenced a man to life imprisonment with hard labor and surgical castration for the 2024 rape and attempted murder of a six-year-old girl, marking the first use of this punishment on the island. This sentence follows a 2024 law introduced to address rapes of minors aged 10 and below, aimed at responding to numerous recorded cases. The attorney general emphasized that the harsh sentence serves as a strong warning against similar crimes. Surgical castration, used with the consent of offenders in countries like the Czech Republic, Germany, and certain U.S. states such as Louisiana, differs from chemical castration, which is drug-based and reversible. Human rights organizations criticize both forms of castration as unethical, advocating instead for survivor support and preventive measures. Other nations considering or using similar punishments include Poland, South Korea, and Britain, reflecting a global debate on the ethics and efficacy of such penalties.